Intoxicated Man Crashed Into Car With Baby, Tried To Flee: PD

SOUTHOLD, NY — A Lindenhurst man was arrested after he ran a stop sign and struck a vehicle with a baby inside in Southold, then tried to flee, police said.

According to Southold Town police, the incident took place on July 25 on New York State Route 25 and Ackerly Pond Lane.

The driver of a 2003 Mazda SUV was headed eastbound on State Route 25 when the driver of a dark blue 2014 Ford Fusion ran the stop sign at Ackerly Pond Lane and struck the vehicle, police said.

Gary Leidahl, 48, who was driving the Ford, fled from the scene down Main Bayview Road; the driver of the Mazda followed and was able to take a picture of the vehicle, which captured a picture of the driver's face, police said.

The driver of the Mazda then drove and pulled into the IGA parking lot shortly after, trying to locate Southold police to report the incident, authorities said. Southold Fire Department rescue was activated and treated the driver's 3-month-old son; he did not appear to have injuries, but was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for evaluation as a precaution, police said.

While canvassing the area for the Ford, an officer saw a man matching the description of the picture on the caller's phone, walking down Cedar Drive in Southold, police said. When the officer turned around to speak with th man, now identified as Leidahl, he saw him hiding in the bushes on the side of the roadway, police said.

Leidahl had driven his vehicle down to the terminus of Cedar Drive, left the vehicle there, and begun walking away on foot, police said.

Leidahl was found to be intoxicated, was placed under arrest, and transported to police headquarters for processing, police said. Police did not immediately list Leidahl's specific charges.